retrospectoscope

[prettygoodword]

retrospectoscope - n., a purported device for seeing in hindsight.


Per The New York Times, slang used by doctors, who work with a bunch of other diagnostic 'scopes.

Also, some administrivia: It's been a while since I ran a theme week and I don't have any theme weeks on tap. Any requests?

---L.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

How about interesting neologisms that have actually attained dictionary status? Or even ones that haven't?

I saw this entry and thought the word might be reshpectobiggle, which, as I recall, was what Puddleglum referred to himself as when he was drunk. (As you know Bob, Puddleglum is actually a marshwiggle. He's a respectable marshwiggle--hence reshpectobiggle when drunk.)

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

That ... has possibilities. Have to do a fair bit of research in preparation, so I don't know if I could do it next week. But I'll add it to the list.

---L.

[al-rants.livejournal.com]

I have a thought! What about loaner words from foreign languages that have come to mean something completely different from what they meant in their original language? Just as one example: macho. You can read about the differences here.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

That I can do something with. Oh, yes. Thankee.

---L.